Hobo Casserole: A Hearty Comfort Food with Many Variations:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
When it comes to comforting favorites Hobo Casserole Recipe, nothing brings on the same flood of memory and warm, fuzziness quite like a well-made casserole. Hobo Casserole is one of the most popular, easy to make meals around that’s both extremely adaptable and comforting. This delicious and easy recipe has a nice rich taste to it, with basic ingredients that will take you no time to prepare for dinner tonight. In this post, we will discover how this dish originated and what you need to have in your pantry or refrigerator for the ingredients of Hobo Casserole recipe do its magic on our table.
What is Hobo Casserole?
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
Hobo Casserole, or Stew (or how about that Hobo Pie!!), is a one-pot meal typically made with ground meat and mixed woth sliced potatoes, vegetables and sauce before it’s baked to tender perfection.
Casseroles get their name from where they originate, hobos were traveling workers during the great depression and made meals out of hearty ingredients. A totally retro casserole that proves big flavors can come with humble ingredients.
Hobo Casserole ingredients:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
- To prepare your mother’s old school Hobo Casserole you will need,
- Ground beef — 1-pound: Ground beef is the base of this casserole and gives it a nice meaty richness.
- 4-5 Medium size potatoes – thinner sliced or cut in small pieces (for the structure and fullness of this dish)
- 1 Onion – Another chopped ingredient, it sweetens and adds a touch of depth to the savory flavor profile
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (because why not?)
- 1 cup of frozen or fresh green beans (you can substitute with corn, carrots and even peas)
- A 10.5 ounce can of cream of mushroom soup: This is the foundation for the sauce that coats this casserole which provides a roomy, creamy thing to your dish with lots flavor
- The milk: made the soup smoother and thicker.
- Shredded Cheese (Cheddar, Mozzarella): For melted cheesy goodness on top.
- Seasoning — Salt and pepper are a must to flavor the casserole.
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil or cooking spray — to coat the baking dish and sauté the vegetables.
How To Make Hobo Casserole Step By Step:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
1. Preheat the Oven:
First turn on your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure that your casserole is even and won’t be load.full of yummy cheese.untracked)}>checksum this Posted on
2. Prepare the Vegetables:
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium. Stir in the diced onion and garlic, cook until are soften. That takes about 5 minutes. Break up the beef with a spoon and cook it until completely browned through. Drain any excess fat.
3. Assemble the Casserole:
In a large mixing bowl, mix together cream of mushroom soup and milk. Stir until the mix is well combined and smooth. Add some salt and pepper. Place a layer of each in casserole dish, greased 9×13 pan.
Potatoes: Place the sliced or diced potatoes in an even layer on the bottom of dish. This will serve as the foundation of the finished casserole.
Meat Layer: Evenly spread the cooked ground beef mixture over top of potatoes.
Vegetables — Layer green beans or your vegetable of choice on top the meat layer.
Mixture: Spread the cream of mushroom soup mixture over the entire casserole making sure to cover all portions.
4. Bake the Casserole:
Place the dish in 350 degrees F preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes by covering it with aluminum foil. Take the foil off and smother that joint with shredded cheese in an even layer, after about 45 minutes. Place the dish back in the oven, uncovered for 15-20 additional minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and potatoes are soft.
5. Cool and Serve:
Either way, let the casserole cool slightly before enjoying! This will help you slice it after cooking, and the flavors should meld.
Variations on Hobo Casserole:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
And, like all great dishes, Hobo Casserole is flexible. The recipe is very forgiving and adaptable, so adjust to your taste or to use up ingredients you already have. Some other possibilities to explore include:
- Chicken Hobo Casserole — You can swap up the cooked, shredded chicken for ground beef. Another flavor profile: Use a can of cream of chicken soup instead of the cream of mushroom.
- Vegetarian Style: Use a mix of beans (like black beans, chickpejson and extra vegetables. Just make sure to use a can of cream of celery soup or your homemade white sauce… keep it veggie!
- Southwestern Hobo Casserole- add in indulgences like some corn, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies. Z&H MEXICAN SALAD Add chilli powder and cumin for an extra kick.
- Italian Hobo Casserole: Add marinara sauce instead of cream of mushroom soup, and Italian seasoning along with Parmesan cheese.
How to Make the Best Hobo Casserole:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
Slice Evenly: Cut your potato into evenly thick slices.Uniform slicing ensures consistency in cooking. Thin slices are ideal as it cooks quickly.
- Pre-Cook Potatoes: If you really want a creamy texture then either partially cook the potato slices (in microwave or in boiling water for about 3 minutes) before layering them into casserole.
- Veggie Swap: Use any veggies you prefer or that are in your fridge and need to be used. Any root vegetables (i.e. carrots, parsnips), and using frozen veg are a good substitute for any fresh choices required by the recipe
- Test for Doneness: When ready to serve, check the potatoes are soft. To check for doneness, you can poke a fork or knife into one of the potatoes and it should pierce them easily.
Serving Suggestions:
Hobo Casserole Recipe:
Hobo Casserole is a filling and hearty dish by itself, but it goes great with several sides. Consider serving it with:
Crisp, Fresh Greens: No Thanksgiving side would be complete without a tangy vinaigrette to cut through the richness of this and other casseroles.
Garlic Bread – Warm, buttery garlic bread for sopping up any creamy sauce leftover on your plate.
Steamed Veggies: Top with steamed veggies like broccoli or green beans for an added serving of vegetables!
